When you’re looking for an anniversary gift with a little more meaning, your local auction house can be a surprisingly good place to start. It’s often possible to match the traditional anniversary themes while finding something far more personal than a newly made gift.
For a first anniversary, traditionally marked with paper, you might discover a beautifully bound book, a vintage map or even an old handwritten letter. For a fifth anniversary, wood opens up all sorts of possibilities, from carved boxes and small pieces of furniture to romantic folk pieces such as Welsh love spoons or spinning chairs with heart-shaped backs.
A tenth anniversary is traditionally associated with tin or aluminium. Vintage signs, tinplate toys, decorative metalware or retro kitchen pieces can make unusual gifts that are full of character and nostalgia.
Auction houses really come into their own for the milestone anniversaries. For a twentieth anniversary, china tea sets, ceramics and figurines are available in countless styles, making it easier to find something that suits the recipient. Silver jewellery, pocket watches, tableware and decorative pieces are natural choices for a twenty-fifth anniversary, while gold jewellery, cufflinks, gilded mirrors or gold-accented ornaments can help celebrate fifty years together.
The real pleasure of buying at auction is that no two gifts are quite the same. Many pieces come with their own history, story or provenance, adding an extra layer of meaning. Rather than simply giving an object, you’re giving a piece of the past that can become part of the couple’s own story.
